First Week - Third Term

Happy Friday You Guys!

If you are anything like me you are watching the clock to celebrate (with a wine glass in hand) for making it through the first week back at school for the third term - right.?!

How did you fare?

We made it through without incident - it could be because we have decided to change schedules a little with homeschooling.

What is the point of not being able to do just this. It's part of the reason for it all.. isn't it? Being able to decide how and when it all should be learnt and done.? And all of this at their pace.

We have cut back drastically on the hours a day spent on book work. I was finding that we were spending way too much time with our noses in books and not enough hours spent outside under the Sun. Don't get me wrong, I love to have my nose buried deep in any book. But this is not for everyone. This was not working for us. G is not a child who can cope with not enough fresh air time. The whole other schedule was just too stressful for us both. So we have cut down and are focusing more on one subject at a time with math every morning.

AND its been wonderful.

Math in the morning with breakfast and coffee and then we get ourselves outside after 10am. There is still a chill in the air and the ground is still soaked from dew from the night before. But all this can be made right with the right sized Wellies and a hand knit jersey.

One subject is then read and spoken about while lunching alfresco on a blanket under the Pines. Anything needing to be written or answered in exercise books will be done after, while D has her afternoon nap.

And then after 3 when naps are done and the last of school work has been marked we're all outside for a couple more hours or until it is just too cold to stand it anymore.

Our Coop is D's obsession at the moment. She needs to be in there as soon as I set them free from the cottage in the morning. She beelines there as fast as her Wellie Boots can carry her. And of course he follows.

He is teaching her to clean up, check that their water and food is enough for the day and collect the eggs for lunch. Pine needles are raked to fill their nesting boxes too.

Of course, you know how well that goes with small humans. He does everything and she stands about the coop calling "Cheekins". Did you see that video on Instagram :) ?

I will add it here just in case you didn't ;)

Credit: @a n g e l a 🌙

His Tenth Year

We all welcomed his 10th year here Earth side with him this past weekend.

We woke before the sun and shared gifts under the warmth of the covers in our bed while the smallest and the second eldest slept.

It was a moment just for him and Rob and I.

Rob is in the middle of his final stretch of studies and so is waking and leaving home earlier in the morning, this month, to travel to his college which is in another town.

This year we were able to surprise Garren and take him out to a restaurant for dinner. It is our first year of homeschooling so we dont have to cater for the numbers in the classroom like previous years. But what we did do is make up a few party packs and cupcakes for his team at soccer practice.

Our tradition is that on your special day you get to choose the meal and then a home-baked cake for afters.

Credit: @a n g e l a 🌙

Thank You July.

I am totally in love with the fact that I am sharing everything off one platform.

I have my shop >here< and links to Ravelry >here< Instagram >here< and Facebook >here<.

There is even a little space for my shares for my Wild Witch Cottage. Something more personal, it may not be for everyone and that's why most of the shares will be kept away from the main blog itself. For those who share the passion about the seasons and living in the magic of it all - then it is for you. You can follow along on Facebook >here< and Instagram >here< and pages added to my website will be shared to these social media platforms once complete.

We have all found a theme and layout we are all super happy with. Simple and clean and nothing distracting at all - it should be here to stay for abit. Of course we hope you like it too. This now should give me (and the men folk) more time to focus on family and more shares about the happenings all around us.

I, personally, have seen in this New Moon phase on the quiet side.
The younger two boys on the other hand have started their third term of school this week and we've had a Aunty Debbie spend the week with us while she awaits her flat to be completed to move into next week. It has been so lovely having Aunty Debbie to stay. All the men folk just adore her and Em giving Danika until end of the week and then she will shine ever so brightly (as only Danika can) to her too. She is going through her shy phase at the moment and anyone new (or not that new too in fact) - to our home or on our travels - finds her grasping at my body with her little hands and burying her wee face in my chest coyly. Bless her. Aunty Debbie will be adding her touch to the holistic wonderfulness that is HANDS-ON EDUCATION & FACILITATION CENTER.
I am so very excited for her.

To end off the month that was July

Blog Update:
For those that missed it here are the shares for the month gone by.
Let it be.
Beginnings of new.
The Moon after Yule.
Nine Full Moons.
Happy Birthday Garren.
A Week Of Nines.

Shop Update:
I hope to be adding a few luxury bars of soap in the new month. I will send out an update for that with links to the shop on the day. There will be an option for delivery, if you are out of town but still in South Africa, and there is a Postnet in your area. Postnet 2 Postnet is the option I have chosen as a safer route for your parcel getting to you in one piece. I am looking into the costs and convenience involved with the Post Office Parcel Plus option too. I dont sell daily so getting in a courier service like Courier Guy and the likes just is not economical.
Id love to know if you have any other suggestions?

Knitting Update:
oh dear.. I wish I could have more to add here, but alas - not. After the last batch of Star Gnomes I sent off to their new homes I just haven't had the time to add any more. Sometimes its good to have a break from doing the same thing over and over again - right? So, I have started on a Foxy Neck-warmer. Its something to keep the fingers busy in the wee hours of the morning while the small boy person reads to me in the car before school begins. Who knows, may be there will be a couple to add to the shop a little later on in the season?

To you all that follow along with us here - bless you and thank you!
To you all that comment on our shares - it really is lovely to know you are there and we so love to hear from - thank you too!

Goodbye July now past and Hello there brighter beautiful August!

brightest blessings,

Beer Bread.

Bread is the staple of many today in South Africa, as it was in the past. I find that it’s a go to for toast with eggs (from our girls in the coop) in the morning for breakfast, sliced with cheese and variety of different toppings for lunches and even as fresh warm side-dishes with our evening supper. If we dont have bread in the pantry cupboard at all times – it's and absolute disaster. The boys lives just would not carry on further than that moment.

A couple of months back my Bread Making Machine went on the blink! Something to do with the turning thingie on the motor ma-gadget. Ok, so I was kind of lost when Rob tried to explain it all to me. So, the bits n pieces have been taken to a clever human who, when has a few moments in his busy day, will wind it or something. It’s been a while and said human is extremely busy. So, I have been trying my hand at a few handmade varieties.

Now, I know that most bread recipes call for hours of arm cramping... and kneading of dough, and then a whole long other waiting period of letting it all rise just to smash it all down again. But, frankly sweet people, this ol’gal just doesn't have the patience for that these days. The longest time I’ve spent waiting for a bread is for my One Pot Bread but that really doesn't have much leg umm arm work.

Beer Bread.

REALLY… what more do I need to say here? it's oh so quick and perfect as a side dish for those good ol’ traditional South African braais – right? And the man sure feels like he has contributed to the whole bread making process by sparing you one of his bottles of beer.

So, ovens on to 160 degrees Celsius to warm up while you busy yourself around the kitchen getting all your necessary ingredients and grease your loaf tin.

In your mixing bowl add 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, half a teaspoon bicarb (baking soda), 3 teaspoons baking powder and 2 tablespoons sugar.

(I then add a quick blessing… please note this is optional… *insert-twinkly-eye-sparkle-here*)

Now, pour in your fizzy beer and watch the magic bubbles. Fun – right?

Give it a good ol’ mix and then a quick ol’ knead and pop into your greased loaf tin. The whole shabam goes into the oven for 60 minutes and then... well.... wait. I'm sure there is plenty to keep yourselves all busy with  now, like clean up the mess (not always the most fun part).

Once done turn out to cool just a bit and then slice and slather with copious amounts of butter and OR (like I did) add my homemade caramelized onion jam!

Easy – right? Who said you couldn't make homemade bread? Let me know how yours turns out?

This delicious post is shared with the all the beautiful humans over at The Homesteader Hop.